Acetylene-gas generator.



110.723,?79. PATENTEDMAR.24,19O3L.

G. W. MAQKBNZIB.

AGETYLENE GAS GENERATOR. APPLICATION FILED-00114, 1901. RENEWED JAN. 10, 1903.

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No. 723,779. PATENTED MAR. 24, 1903.

G. W; MAoKENZIE. AOETYLENE GAS GENERATOR.

APPLICATION FILED OUT-14, 1901. RENEWED JAE. 10, 1903.

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No. 723,779. PATBNTED, MAR. 24, 190s. G. W. MAbKENZIE.

AOETYLENE GAS GENERATOR. APPLIGATION PILBI 0QT.14, 1901. RENEWED JAN. 10, 1903.

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GEORGE W. MACKENZIE, OF BEAVER, PENNSYLVANIA.

ACETYLENE-GAS GENERATOR.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 723,779, dated March 24, 1903. Application filed October 14, 1901. Renewed January 10, 1903. Serial No. 138,520- (No model.)

Beaver, county of Beaver, State of Pennsyl Vania, have invented certain new and useful.

Improvements in Acetylene-Gas Apparatus, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings, forming part ofthis specifica,

lion, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view in elevation of my complete apparatus.

of Fig. l. of the arm-shifting device.

Fig. 2 is a perspective detail view engagement with the waste'cock lever.

broken away. View on the line V V of Fig. 8.

figure. Fig. 7 is a partial'similar View showing the three-Way valve turned to communi Fig. 8 is a cen-" tral vertical sectional view on the line VIII cate with the exhaust-pipe.

Referring-to the drawings, the entire apparatus consists generally of a generating-department A and a storage and cooling de-j partment or holder B, provided with a rising and falling bell:

The generator is designed to operate in conformity with the consumption of the gas and is automatically governed by the fall of the bell due to the exhaustion of its contents.

The generator A is composed of a cylindrical chamber having outer and inner walls 2 3, an intervening Water-seal space 4, and an 7 Fig. 1 is a de-- tail vertical sectional View through a portion: of the generator indicated by the line-'1 1"- Fig. 3 is a simi-j lar view of the interlocking valve-crank, the. three-way valve and its -'interlocking,arm in' Fig. 4 is a plan view of the apparatus, partly- Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional 1 Fig. 6 is a similar view on the line VI VI of the same interior bath containing gas-generatingchamher 5, closed by a bottom 6.

The entire generator is covered'by a circular top 7, provided with a cylindrical downwardly-extending shell 8, adapted to be immersed-in the water contained in space 4,

and thus forming an eifective water seal to prevent escapeof gas.

A drain cook. or valve 9. is provided to draw off water, sediment, 850., the bottom tapering downwardly to the valve. The valve is provided with a handle or operating-leverlO, which in the closed position of .the valve projects into range of and is engaged by a swinging locking-arm 11 on the lower side of a three-way cook 12, which shall be hereinafter described. This construction prevents the opening of the drain-cock 9 until the three-way cock is turned and is of especial advantage by reason of thus rendering itimpossible'to open the cock 9 to drain the gencrating-chamber until communication is cut oif between such chamber andthe holder.

Arranged centrally in the interior of the generating-chamberi's agas-pipe 13, the upper open end of which terminates above the watr-line, the pipe leading down and through the lower side of the chamber over to the gasometer, where it is branched upwardly, asat 13', and connected with the strainer and cooler at 14, while a downwardly-extending branch 15 leads to a drip-chamber 16.

The gasproducing chamber is charged with water from the outside through a funneltopped pipe 5, which projects upwardly in the interior to the desired level of the water. This construction (clearly shown in Fig. 1*) prevents the forcing of the water outwardly through the pipe, due to its ebullition during thegas-generating processgvhich I have found to be the case when the feed-water pipe is tapped into the side.

Surrounding the upper interior of the gasproducing chamber, regularly spaced on a concentric common level, are a SGIIGS Of cartridgesupporting forks 17, each provided with an open-ended slot 18, and to the body of each fork is pivoted at 19 a double swinging discharging-arm 20, adapted to embrace the fork above and below, so as to positively discharge the cartridge from its pendentposition in the slotted arm, permitting it to drop into the water-bath.

In Fig. 10 I have shown a modified construction in which the fork 17 is not slotted, but is provided with a laterally-extending pin 18, projecting in a direction away from the approach of the swinging arm 20.

The cartridges are suspended in the slotted arms or upon the pins and are discharged therefrom by the dislodging-arm 21 in a manner similar to the operation with the slot. The swinging arms project inwardly into the path of an intermittently-actuated dislodging-arm 21, secured to the bottom of a vertical stem 22, having an elongated bearing in a cross-bar23. This bar is incorporated with the top of the generator, extends across it, and iuterfits, by means of suitable lockingdogs 24, with retaining-lugs 25 on the framework, by which the top is held down tight in position. Upon releasing the locking device the top may be raised bodily from the generator. Intermittent partial rotations of the stem 22 are imparted to it through the movement of a pawl 26, pivoted to the lever 27 and adapted to engage a ratchet-wheel 28, secured to the upper end of stem 22. The lever 27 is journaled on the stem, projects outwardly, and is separably connected at 29 with the shifting rod 30. The ratchet-wheel 28 is free to turn in one direction under action of the pawl; but backward movement is prevented and its movement limited and rendered certain by means of a double-sided escapementlatch 31, pivoted at 32 to an upwardprojecting bearing on the cross-bar of the top. The cartridges 33 are composed of bags of muslin or other porous material, partly filled with carbid, tied around the top, and supported in the slots 18 or on the pins 18. A separate compartment is provided for each cartridge by means of equally-spaced radial partitions 34,extending above and below the water-line, thus isolating each cartridge andpreventing accidentalsplashing by each fallingcart-ridge. The interior central space above the waterline is filled as much as possible by means of a hollow cylindrical float or space-filler 35, surrounding the central pipe 13 and provided with a downwardly-extending hollow stem or sleeve 36, having a vertical slot 37, terminating in a lateral ofiset 38 at the base. Projecting outwardly from the pipe 13 into the slot is a pin 39, which acts as a support for the float when raised out of the way to recharge, the pin making a bayonet-joint with the offset, such raised position being indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 8. By this construction it will be seen that the interior gasretaining space in the generator is reduced to a minimum, the gas passing outwardly to the holder as fast as made. In its lowered position 'thespace-filler rests on the waterline, being supported by the lower end of the sleeve bearing on the elbow-joint of the delivery-pipe or other suitable support. The shifting rod 30, by which the lever 27 is intermittently operated, is connected at the other end to the lower end of a lever 40, made integral with and extending downwardly from a swinging shifting arm 41, pivoted at 42 to a bracket 43, secured to the outer case of the holder. This shifting arm is provided with an upper straight slot 44, terminating in a lower curved cam-slot 44, in which slot engages a pin 45, projecting outwardly from and moving in conformity with the rising and falling bell of the holder. As the holder falls, due to exhaustion of gas, the pin enters the curved slot 44', throwing the lever back, shifting lever 27, and discharging a cartridge. Upon the rising of the bell the pin 45 emerges upwardly from the curved slot into straight slot 44,which is of sufficient length to always embrace the pin, which action reverses the lever 40 and places the lever 27 in position for the next discharge. It will be noted that the pin 45 is thus always in engagement with the slot, so that accidental or unintentional shifting of the discharge-lever is rendered impossible, while the movement of the lever 40 is maintained in alinement by guides 46. From the pipe 13 the gas enters the cylindrical straining and cooling chamber 47, concentric with the center of the holder and supported upon an enlarged base provided with openings permitting circulation of the water, from the top of which it emerges into the interior ot' the bell-cavity above the water-line.

An escape-pipe 48 to carry off excess gas is located in the center of the holder, projecting upwardly above the water-line and surrounded by a telescoping sleeve 49, secured to the under top of the bell, which forms a water seal to prevent passage of gas to the escape-pipe at all intermediate positions below the upward limit of its movement. At a point about nine inches above the lower rim of the bell this sleeve 49 is perforated by holes 50, so that when the bell is practically full and at the approximate limit of its upward travel any excess gas will escape from its interior to the pipe 48. It will be noted also that at such limit of its upward travel the bell will still be immersed about nine inches in the water of the holder.

The supply-pipe 13 is provided at a point intermediate between the generator and holder with a three-way cock 12 and a lateral branch waste-pipe 51, with which pipe the pipe 48 is connected by a T-joint, the wastepipe being thus common to both and leading therefrom by extension 51 upward to any desired point of discharge. The three-way cook 12 is provided underneath with a locking-arm 11, as I have described, and is operated by an upwardly-extending stem 52, having a bearing at 53 and terminating in a crank-handle 54. When the machineis closed for operation, the cock being open for passage of gas to the holder, as in Fig. 6, this crankhandle projects over the top of the generator, bearing against a limiting-abutment 55 thereon and effectually preventing lifting of and also being thrown out of the way to permit raising of the top. Suchraising will be facilitated by passage of air through the waste pipe and cock to the interior of the generator,and thus special air-valves for such purpose are eliminated. It will thus be seen that the waste-pipe serves to carry off excess gas from the holder and to admit air through the cock to the generating-chamber.

A service-pipe 56 receives the gas in the interior of the holder above the water-line, carrying it downwardly through the water and outwardly through the bottom to any desired point of consumptionor distribution.

When not charged and submerged, the bell is entirely immersed and filled with water, being practically empty of gas, a limited open space being left for the upper terminals of the strainer 47 and delivery-pipe 56, for which extended copings 57 and 58 are provided on the top of the bell. This construction is of advantage, as it reduces the amount of air to a minimum even before the holder is charged. The bell is guided and braced in its vertical travel by means of guides 59, engaging posts 60, of pipe or other suitable design, secured to the shell of the holder and connected, as shown, at the top. w

In its construction and operation my invention is very simple and reliable and not liable to get out of order.

The objectionable features of danger, trouble in charging and cleaning, as well as the necessity of frequent attention, have been overcome, and the apparatus will commend itself to those skilled in this art. It will be What 'I claimis' 1. In an acetylene-gas generator, in combination with a central outlet-pipe, a movable space-filler,surrounding the outlet-pipe above the water-line and provided with a lower telescoping extension, with means for adj ustably supporting the space-filler ina raised position, substantially-as set forth.

2. In an acetylene-gas generator, in combi nation with a central outlet-pipe, a movable space-filler. surrounding the outlet-pipe above the-water-line and provided with a lower telescoping extension, a longitudinal slot in the extension having an oifs'et terminal providing a bearing-shoulder, and a pin securedin the outlet-pipe and in engagement with the slot, substantially as set forth.

3. In acetylene-gas apparatus, the combilateral dislodging-arm, 'a ratchet-wheel, and an actuating-lever provided with a pawl; of a pivotally-mounted lever connected with the actuating-lever and provided with a cam-slot in engagement with a vertically-movable pin, substantially as set forth. i

4:. In acetylene-gas apparatus, the com-bi nation with a vertical stem provided with a lateral dislodging-arm, a ratchet-wheel, and an actuating-lever provided with a pawl: of a lever pivotally mounted in a bearing on the holder-shell having a straight slot extending above the pivotal bearing and a downwardlyextending continuous curved slot below the pivotal bearing, a downwardly extending rigid arm, a connection between said arm and actuating-lever, and a vertically-moving pin secured to the holder-bell andin engagement with the lever-slot, substantially as set forth.

'nation with a verticalstem provided with a In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE W. MACKENZIE. Witnesses:

J AS. J. MOAFEE, E. V. MACKENZIE. 

